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  • From: "Lawrence F. London, Jr." <venaurafarm@bellsouth.net>
  • To: permaculture <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [permaculture] On an ethics of permaculture,
  • Date: Fri, 06 Aug 2010 06:40:01 -0400


Thanks for posting this Steve; it should, in some form, be included in modern permaculture design courses as it is classic information. You write really well with a calm voice of common sense and reason and enlightenment.

On 8/6/2010 5:21 AM, steve read wrote:
Often wondered where this "fair shares" ethic got into PmC , I
understand that its a funky soundbyte but for me philosophically and
practically its very different to the original "3rd"ethic as put forward
by Mollison in the designers manual , where also he expounds the "Life
ethic" of which we hear perhaps too little when PmC ethics are discussed .

The same thing can I feel be said of the famous zone system where I
often here about zone 00 and zone 6 and 7 , the things talked about for
zone 00 seeming not only out of place in an approach created for
efficient physical placement of elements in a design but also that they
are more effectively discussed through the ethic of People care , me
being people too . 6 and 7 just sound like a load of old guilding the
lily nonsense to me .

earthcare --- work with nature not against, be part of nature and not
seperated from it in my mind --- enabling the ability to select the
appropriate techniques and strategies adapted to the Place , not pushing
or forcing a pre-conceived favourite design model to make the Place fit
it .

Peoplecare --- work with human nature and culture not against ---
enabling the use of the attractive force , guiding in an awakened way ,
not pushing or forcing the people to fit a pre-conceived personal mental
model . Loving them , loving myself .

Limit population --- showing our understanding of population doubling
times and ecological carrying capacities , and also our PmC willingness
to examine and discuss sensitive issues
Limit consumption --- of those things destructive to planetary and
personal health , simply good sense and if coupled to discussions around
abundance and appropriate consumption a very positive message is imo put
foward .
Give away surplus --- frankly I'm not in PmC to create "just enough" so
that it has to be "shared out fairly" , I try to guide the design of
systems that will produce "too much" an excess to be given away in the
same way as an apple tree "gives away" those kilos of apples each year .
Yes in the short term distribute these surpluses in a fair way until we
all have surpluses , but I'm not in this for the short term . Give away
surplus for me being the main ethic with a sub-clause 're-distribute in
an awakened manner' .

Life ethic --- that all forms of life have the right to exist and their
place in the Whole , often with a place and rĂ´les not understood by us .

I imagine thats all old hat for most people on this list but I felt like
writing it up anyway . Also to make the point that over these years of
designing and teaching I've come to appreciate to what point PmC comes
across as a secular Way for many people which has helped me understand
the often strong reactions that people can have during courses and when
being guided to unfold their own designs .

Ciao

Steve Read
www.permaculturefrance.org

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